Combination u n der-garivi ent



(No Model.)

I. O. MUSTIN. COMBINATION UNDER GARMENT.

No. 462,913. Patented Nov. 10,1891.

ATENT OFFICE.

IDA (i. MTJUIIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINATION UNDER-GARMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,913, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed July 14,1890. Serial No. 358,706. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IDA C. MUsTIN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Under-Garments for Ladies, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to under-garments for ladies; and it consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to produce an improved under-garment for ladies use, which shall comprise the shirt portion and drawers in one structure, and in which the leg portions may be short so as to envelop the limbs only to a point immediately below the knees or extend lower down to the ankles. The garment is adapted to be made either with high neck and short sleeves, or low neck with or without sleeves. The garment is also open down the front with provision for securing the opening by means of buttons or equivalent means, and from the abdomen down between the leg portions and up to the small of the back or in the neighborhood of the waist portion the garment is made open, having no means but thenatural fitting to the wearer to maintain the two edges of the opening in lapped position. Myinvention has particular reference to the structure or formation of this opening where it is connected to the rear portion of the garment in the neighborhood of the small of the back or waistportion, and is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating myimproved garment applied to a wearer, looking toward the front portion. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the lower portion of the garment removed from the wearer, for the purpose of illustrating more nearly the structural characteristics. Figet is a front elevation of the upper or shoulder portion of the garment. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the garment laid out fiat before being fitted to the figure. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the seams on line to m of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the edges of the opening in the garment; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the pieces which is secured to the rear portions of the lower part of the garment to produce the necessaryshape, fullness, and material for forming the rear covering at the seat of the garment.

A is the body of the garment, and has its upper portion cut out, as at B, to form alowneck garment, and has also slits formed in the edges of the tubular material of which the body A is formed to constitute the armholes O, leaving the u ide shoulder portions D between the armholes C and the low-necked portion B.

The garment is formed of knitted fabric excellently adapted to stretch in all directions to fit the form snugly, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and E2. The arm-holes G, instead of being cut by deep notches, as has been customary, are formed by simple slots through one vertical line of loops and then bound by elastic stitching. The shoulder-pieces D are united at the top, so as to fit snugly to the shoulder. Lace or other ornamentation may be placed about the low-necked portions and armholes, if desired.

The front of the garment is open, as at E, and the edges are bound, as at e, and pro vided with buttons, so that from the abdomen to the throat the garment maybe secured together and the juncture held close and ti ghtly fitting. From the abdomen down and upward in the rear to the small of the back or waist portion the garment is made open and depends upon the fit to the form to insure the edges L of this opening to remain in contact and protect the person of the'wearer.

The leg portions F of the garment are formed by cutting the tubular fabric in the shape shown in Fig. 5 and securing the inner edges by seams extending from the lower portion part way up toward the opening L. The leg portions may be long or short, as desired. Pieces G of the shape shown in Fig. 8 are secured to the tube so shaped by scams k'and K, (see Fig. 3,) said pieces giving the fullness necessary for the seat of the garment and the proper fitting about the upper portion of the limbs. The two pieces Gnvhich are attached to the respective leg portions F, have their seams K united at the apex of the opening at which are so constituted that for all movements of the wearer these flaps will give, and yet at all times maintain a covering to the body of the wearer, preventingexposure at any time, thus producing an exceedingly warm and comfortable garment. One of the essential parts of myinvention lies in the peculiar shape of this juncture of the parts G with respect to each other and the body portion of the garment, and depends upon the fact that the curved edges H of these portions G have no connection whatever with each other or with the body of the garment until they meet at the extreme upper point I of the opening. It is evident that by uniting the edges II in a given point I either flap of the part G may be brought to the outside. thus giving the wearer the privilege of selecting the fiap which shall come next to the skin, according as to whether the wearer is right or left handed. The opening L in the front portion below the abdomen and the edge II of the flap portions of the parts G are formed with the edges folded over and bound with an elastic stitch, as indicated in Fig. '7, whereby the edges of the garment are made so as to permit reasonable movement even after the garment is tightly fitted to the form. An elastic binding of this nature is most desirable.

Any movement of the limbs cannot possibly drag the garment out of shape, since at no place along the edge H of the flaps is there an attachment toeither the tube portion or the opposing flap, and consequently there can be no dragging upon any portion of the garment from the greatest movement of the limbs of the wearer. As the parts G and flap portions at the rear are united in a single point the leg portions of the garment at the rear are permitted to move about this point with utmost freedom without the least tendency of rupturing the garment.

If desired, the seams K 713 and portions of the seams of the leg portions F (designated by the letters J) are formed as indicated in down at its free edges, whereby great strength 1. A ladys under-garment consisting of a body and leg portion formed of knitted fabric in one integral piece without seams down the back and formed with a continuous opening from the abdomen down between the leg portions'and up to the small of the back or waist portion in the rear and having the edges of the rear portions of the leg parts provided with independent pieces or loose flaps G, substantially of the shape shown, secured thereto by seams K and 7a, the said parts G being formed with curved freeetlges II, adapted to lap over each other when worn, but unconnected with the body portion, and in which the said edges H. meet at the upperend of the opening in the back and are united to the body part at a point whereby either edge II may be drawn over the other.

2. An under-garment for ladies, consisting of body and leg portions formed of knitted fabric in one piece with an opening from the neck down the front and up to the small of the back or waist in the rear, the said opening being provided with means for fastening the edges from the neck to the abdomen and in which the edges of the opening adjacent to the small of the back or waist are made full and elastic and are united to the body of the fabric at a single point at the apex of the opening, so that either elastic edge may be drawn over the other.

3. An under-garment for-ladies, consisting of a body and leg por ion for-med of an integral tube of knitted fabric in which the neck portion is cut down and a single row of loops of the fabric on diametrically-opposite sides are cut to form armholes, the fabric between the armholes and neck portion being united at the shoulder part to form wide shoulderstraps entirely covering the shoulder portion adjacent to the arm.

In testimony of which invention I'havc hereunto set my hand. 7

, IDA O. MUSTIN.

Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

